The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-07-28
DIAMOND {: LORE.
THE ROMANTIC ADVENTURES OF
SOME FAMOUS GEMS.

THE ROMANTIC ADVENTURES OF
SOME FAMOUS GEMS.
From the Eye-socket Of Hindoo God 70
the sceptre Of the Csar--From slaves
Leg to the INT Of Napoieon's Sword
History Of Some Of the Most Noted Jewels.
The diamond from time immemorial
has been an object of interest. Whether
II glittered ON the famous breastplate Of
Aaron, or hid its light in the pocket of
the Swiss soldier, who picked up the
Florentine diamond on the. battlefield Of
Granson, 1t has had an existence roman
tic enough to all ponderous volume.
No description Of Madame Billions ball
10 complete unless II includes the dia-
monds worn on the occasion, and the
sparkling gem is admired on the i'm
maculate bosom Of the hotel clerk as
well as in the crown.
Most of the famous diamonds Of the
world have romantic history. Some Of
It is quite legendary, but all is interest
ing. The Orloff diamond, now in the
sceptre of the Russian Gar, is said to be
the largest undoubted stone. One story
romantically assures 10 that 1t was once
one Of the eyes of the Hindoo god Sri
Rangs. The other eye was diamond
Of like size and value. Determined to
secure the precious eyes grenadier de-
serted the French service, and assumed
the character of . native devotee. This
plan worked so we'll that the deity was
intrusted to his care, hut one night he
repaid the Hindoos' confidence by max
ing away with the right orb. Why he
did net take the other also has never
been explained. The deserter sold his
prize for $4,000. The purchaser carried
It from Madras to London, where he got
rid Of 1t at . handsome advance. After
several changes Of owners the idols eye
passed into the hands Of Prince Orloh,
who gave 1t to his royal mistress,
Catherine II. The Orion weighs 194
karats, and cost the Czarina's lover some
thing like half million.
Next to the Orloff in weight comes the
Pitt diamond, 80 called because Mr.. Pitt,
the English governor of Madras, bought
it and removed II to London. It was
found by slave in the Porteal mines of
India in 1901. Thefellow is said to have
escaped with the gem concealed in self
inflicted cash in his leg. 1t was after
ward stolen from the slave by an En-
glish skipper. who sold it for small sum.
Finding its way to France during the
stormy scenes Of the French Revolution,
it disappeared for time. but afterward
turned up in the sword hilt of Napoleon,
and was captured after Waterloo. It is
said to be the finest brilliant in Europe,
and is now among the crown jewels Of
France. In shape the Pitt is somewhat
round, and its estimated worth in Amer
ican cash is two and half millions.
1t is well known that the Koh-i-nor
glitters for Queen Victoria. Like the
dian mines, and Hindoo legends say that
5000 years ago it was worn by
"Karna." At any rate, it passed from
prince to prince until 1849, when 1t fell
into English hands by the surrender of
the Punjab to the crown. Since then 1t
has been kept at Windsor Castle, but
model of 1t Is shown in the jewel-room
Of the Tower of London to appease the
curiosity of her majesty's subjects. The
Koh-i-nor is fiat on the lower side, cor
responding to cleavage plane. This
fact leads some to suppose that It and
the Orloff at one time formed one stone,
but there is, of course, nothing to estab-
lsh this supposition.
The crown of Portugal possesses gem
said to be diamond. If genuine, It Is
the largest one In the world. This is the
Braganza, weighing 1850 karats in the
rough. Ofcourse the Portuguese contend
that 1t is q pure stone, and guard it closely
q such; but diamond experts are inclined
to doubt, and some 60 SO far as to call 1t
. white topaz. The Brsganza was found
by negro in the mines of Brazil. OF
course the discoverer, who was not q
slave, was cheated out of his treasure
(such is the history of the first finders Of
diamonds), and the Portuguese crown Sc.
cured 1t at the first opportunity. If .
topaz, 1t has no great value; If dia-
mond-and We are willing to let poor
Portugal have the benefit of the doubt
It is worth more than twenty millions.
When Mohammed Shah sat on. the
throne Of Delhi he had the most wonder
ful collection Of diamonds ever known.
LII WoS uAO 0AAOOetVAo Ako0 pluuuCAC ShO
King OF Golconda and Beljapoor. By
and-by Nadir Shah, who had mounted
the glittering throne Of Persia. was At
tracted by MoAammed's treasures, and
at time when he was not expected, he
came down upon Delhi with the inn
petuosity of the Assyrian. The wonder
ful Peacock Throne Of priceless jewels
was swept away. Such diamonds as the
Koh-i-nor and the Darya-i-nor, with
thousands Of other gems hardly less re-
nowned, disappeared in the lawless loot.
The conqueror bore his spoil to Kho-
rassen, where he made the Darya-i-nor,
"Sea of Light" the chief gem in hfs crown.
That magnificent diamond is now in the
crown Of Persia, having had one of the
most remarkable histories known to any
gem in the keeping Of ROYALTY.
One might write many pages in telling
the history of the diamond. Found by
slaves, stolen by robbers, fought for on
battle-6elds, purchased with blood
money-such fs the story. The "Aus-
trian yellow" diamond was once mistaken
for piece Of colored glass, and the
valuable Dudley" was for . time child's
toy. The various throne-rooms of the
world are filled with diamonds, but they
never get out to air themselves for the
benefit Of the curious. No doubt many
of these are "paste," for Of late some
clever limitations have been discovered
pretty close to royalty.
There y In the "green vaults" Of
Dresden one of the rsrest diamonds in
the world, yet its weight h but forty.
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